(a) Purpose. The purpose of the requirements in this chapter is to further the appropriate provision and design of off-street parking and loading areas that will:
(1) Provide access for occupants, employees, customers, clients and visitors to land uses in a community dependent on automobile and truck transportation.
(2) Foster safe and efficient circulation of vehicles and pedestrians both on private property and on adjacent public streets.
(3) Minimize nuisances in residential areas from on- or off-street parking of large numbers of, or incompatible types of, vehicles.
(b) Applicability.
(1) Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided in conformance with the requirements of Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 and other provisions herein for:
A. All new uses, and
B. All existing uses that are:
l. Enlarged or expanded, or
2. Otherwise changed in density, intensity, capacity or other measure that determines parking or loading requirements hereunder, or
3. Changed to any other use to which different parking requirements herein apply.
(2) The requirements of this chapter apply to any provision, removal, enlargement or alteration of any off-street parking or loading spaces or areas that are accessory to any building or structure and either:
A. Are existing as of the effective date of these regulations, or
B. Are new spaces or areas required to be provided hereunder or voluntarily provided in excess of the requirements herein.
These provisions shall likewise apply to parking that is the principal use of a parcel. Open sales lots for motor vehicles shall not be considered as parking spaces for purposes of this chapter.
No additional spaces shall be required for expansion or change of an existing use if the standards herein would require an increase over the spaces already provided on the site of less than fifteen percent (15%).
(Ord. 88-86AC. Passed 12-5-88.)
(c) Prerequisite for Permits.
(1) Building Permit/Zoning Certificate. Prior to issuance of a building permit or zoning certificate, the City Manager or his/her designee shall determine the application therefor exhibits compliance with:
A. All applicable provisions of these and other City regulations from which a variance has not been approved as provided therein, and
B. All conditions to which any approval thereunder has been made subject. (Ord. 89-85AC. Passed 12-4-89.)
(2) Certificate of occupancy. Either prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or within such period of time thereafter as the Planning Commission may have approved, he or she shall likewise determine either:
A. That parking and loading facilities required herein have been fully installed and improved in conformance with:
l. All currently applicable approved applications for City permits, certificates or approvals, and
2. Any conditions to which approval thereof was made subject, and
3. All provisions of this and other applicable City ordinances from which a variance has not been approved, or
B. That financial sureties approved by the Law Director have been provided guaranteeing such installation and improvement.
(d) Exception for C-l Commercial District. In recognition of the existing character and pedestrian orientation of the City's older downtown business area, no off-street parking or loading shall be required for individual uses located entirely within the C-l Commercial District and that are also located entirely within the area bounded by Lorain, Pleasant, Vine and Professor Streets.
This exception is made to minimize curb cuts disruptive to safe and efficient pedestrian circulation and to encourage provision of off-street parking in centralized locations that serve multiple uses.
(e) Variances. The Planning Commission may approve a variance to the parking or loading requirements herein on the basis either:
(1) Of criteria provided in the general regulations governing variances in this chapter, or
(2) Of submission of parking and demand studies, documented industry standards or other evidence satisfactory to the Commission that the nature of the use requires fewer spaces than required herein.
(Ord. 88-64. Passed 10-3-88.)
Notice of the variance request shall be sent by regular mail to all property owners within 200 feet of the property in question at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Planning Commission meeting. (Ord. 14-65 AC CMS. Passed 12-15-14.)
(f) Preservation and Replacement of Existing Spaces. No off-street parking or loading spaces or areas provided in full or partial conformity with the provisions of these or previous regulations shall be reduced in size, number or other characteristics below the requirements herein, or further below such requirements, so long as the use they serve continues in operation.
Residential garages shall not be converted into nonparking use unless parking requirements herein will be met after such conversion.
A use that undergoes a reduction in floor area or other measure specified herein for determining the number of required spaces may nonetheless reduce the number of spaces to those required herein for the downsized use.
(g) Use of Parking and Loading Areas. Except as otherwise provided herein, required off-street parking shall be used solely for parking for patrons, occupants, guests, visitors or employees of the premises on the same lot.
No sales, dead storage of any kind, nor motor vehicle dismantling, repair or servicing work except for emergency services, is permitted in any open off-street parking or loading area except as an accessory use to single-family detached or attached dwellings or as otherwise provided herein or as may be approved by Council.
(h) Access. Except for uses required hereunder to provide four or fewer spaces, each required off-street parking space and loading space shall open directly upon an aisle or driveway of such width and design as to provide a safe and efficient means of vehicular access. Each space shall have vehicular access to a public thoroughfare in a manner that will least interfere with traffic movement thereupon. Division of aisles and driveways shall be as provided in Table l.
(i) Grading and Drainage. All parking and loading areas shall be graded for proper drainage and the volume of storm water runoff that exceeds that existing prior to the installation of such areas shall be discharged into the City storm sewer system or in another manner approved by the Director of Public Works.
(j) Maintenance. All parking and loading areas shall be maintained free of dust, trash and debris. The surfacing, curbing, lighting fixtures, marking, signage and related appurtenances shall be maintained in good condition so long as such areas are used for parking or loading purposes.
(k) Signs. All signs relating to off-street parking and loading areas shall conform to the provisions on signs in Chapter 1351.
(Ord. 88-64. Passed 10-3-88.)
(l) Illumination. Uses required herein to provide over four (4) parking spaces or one or more loading spaces shall provide, for such spaces as are intended to be commonly used at night, lighting facilities that comply with the regulations contained in Section 1357.10(c)(9) of the Code.
(Ord. 14-65 AC CMS. Passed 12-15-14.)
(Ord. 14-65 AC CMS. Passed 12-15-14.)
(m) Landscaping and Screening. All uses providing ten or more off-street parking spaces or any loading spaces shall screen such spaces from the view of the street and from adjacent residential property. Such screening shall take the form of a uniformly painted solid fence, wall, landscape screen or combination thereof that provides year-round opacity and that conform to the following requirements:
Location of Parking or Loading Area | Minimum Height (a) of Screening in Feet (b) | Location of Screening |
Within 100 feet of a public street (c) | Along entire length of abutting street line except for access ways. | |
Parking spaces | 3 | |
Loading spaces | 5 | |
Abutting a residential district (d) | 5 | Along entire length of property line between parking or loading area and the residential district except for access ways. |
(a) Height shall be fence height as defined herein.
(b) At time of installation.
(c) Maximum height of screening within thirty feet of an at-grade street or railroad intersection shall be three feet.
(d) Maximum height of screening at any time shall be seven feet.
(Ord. 88-64. Passed 10-3-88.)
The Planning Commission may approve a landscaping and screening plan which deviates from the requirements herein, upon a showing that strict adherence to such screening and landscaping requirements will have a detrimental effect upon the safety and welfare of the residents of the City.
All screening and landscaping plans shall be reviewed by and receive the written approval of the City Grounds Director prior to approval of the Commission.
(Ord. 88-86AC. Passed 12-5-88.)